Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology

Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology
Author: Robert K. Barnhart
Publisher: Collins Reference
Total Pages: 944
Release: 1995-09-15
Genre: Reference
ISBN: 9780062700841

As all lovers of language know, words are the source of our very understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Often, however, our use of language is so automatic that we neglect to consider where those words came from and what they assume. What are the implications, beyond the simple dictionary definitions, of using words such as privilege, hysteria, seminal, and gyp? Browsing through the pages of The Barhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology is like exploring the historical, political, and rhetorical wonderland of our linguistic heritage. We see the evolution of ideas, as rootword connections that now seem arbitrary are traced to schools of thought from the past. We also find an opportunity to examine how the sometimes backwards, sometimes hilarious, and sometimes illuminating ideologies built into our language affect our modern thinking. Written in a fresh, accessible style, this book provides the derivations of over 21,000 English-language words without resorting to the use of abbreviations, symbols, or technical terminology. Drawing on the most current American scholarship, and focusing on the core words in contemporary English, The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology is both a diverting browse and a thinking person's Bible.

The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology

The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
Author: Robert K. Barnhart
Publisher: New York : H.W. Wilson Company
Total Pages: 1364
Release: 1988
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN:

Contains over 30,000 entries with word derivations, spelling, pronunciation, and meanings. Also traces how the meanings have developed over time.

The Concise Dictionary of English Etymology

The Concise Dictionary of English Etymology
Author: Walter W. Skeat
Publisher: Wordsworth Editions
Total Pages: 660
Release: 1993
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 9781853263118

Walter Skeat (1835-1912) was one of the greatest investigators of the roots of the English language, and his remarkable scholarship was instrumental in the revival of the great works of early English Literature. His astonishing detective work into the origins and development of the world's most widely used language provides an unsurpassed guide to its flexibility and richness.

Dictionary of Word Origins

Dictionary of Word Origins
Author: John Ayto
Publisher: Arcade
Total Pages: 592
Release: 2011-04-01
Genre: Reference
ISBN: 9781611450538

Uncover the hidden and often surprising connection between words. Written in a clear and informative style, the more than 8,000 articles reveal the origins of and links between some of the most common English-language words. What is the link between map and apron, acrobat and oxygen, zeal and jealousy, flour and pollen, secret and crime? Did you know that crimson originally comes from the name of tiny scale insects, the kermes, from whose dried bodies a red dyestuff is made? That Yankee began as a nickname for Dutchmen? That omelette evolved from amulette, “a thin sheet of metal,” and is a not-too-distant cousin of the word laminate? That jeans find their antecedent in jean fustian, meaning “a cotton fabric from Genoa”? They also contain an extensive selection of words whose life histories are intrinsically fascinating or instructive. This dictionary shows how modern English has developed from its Indo-European roots and how the various influences on the language—from migration and invasion to exploration, trade, technology, and scholarship—have intermingled. It is an invaluable addition to any English or linguistics library.